Instructional Series
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Welcome to the English medium literacy instructional series teaching and learning resources for years 1 to 8.

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80 items - Showing 61 - 70
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Greedy Cat at the Market
by Joy Cowley
illustrated by Robyn Belton
Poppy the dog is staying with Katie’s family while Nan is away. Mum and Katie decide to take Poppy for a walk to the market, leaving Greedy Cat at home – or so they think!
Gold 1
#LFH
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Space Rubbish
by Kylie Parry, Illustrations by Jez Tuya
This humorous science-fiction play is set on a spaceship in the future. When the crew’s rubbish-blasting machine stops working, they are intrigued to find out how people used to deal with their rubbish in the “old days”.
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And the Winner is...
by Iona McNaughton
This article builds on ideas introduced in “Bird of the Year” (in the same journal) and provides information about six winners of the Bird of the Year competition. Much of the information is presented in the form of tables, allowing students to gain experience in reading different text formats. Together, the two articles provide opportunities for students to identify and discuss main ideas about native New Zealand birds.
Gold 1
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Bird of the Year
by Iona McNaughton
In this interview, Megan Hubscher of Forest & Bird talks to Iona McNaughton about the Bird of the Year competition – why it started and how it helps keep New Zealand native birds safe. Students can read about some of the past winners of the competition in an accompanying article, “And the Winner Is ...”
Gold 1
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The Competition
by Chris Lam Sam
Messy City has a big problem – it’s too messy! A group of superheroes are invited to take part in a competition to find a solution to the problem. In addition to providing opportunities for expressive oral reading, this humorous, light-hearted play can be used to consider ideas about caring for the environment, problem solving, and the power of cooperation.
Gold 1
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Mariri the Flying Man
retold by Maria Samuela
When Mariri, a great explorer, realises his homeland of ‘Avaiki has become overcrowded, he and his warriors set off to find a new home for their people. This traditional tale, featuring rich literary language, describes their discovery of an island (now called Atiu) and Mariri’s subsequent, extraordinary plan for getting back to ‘Avaiki to bring his wife to the island.
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Seashells
by Feana Tu‘akoi
“Seashells” provides information about the shells that can be found on New Zealand beaches. It includes intriguing facts and photographs. This article is linked to two other pieces in this journal: “Super Shells”, which describes some ways that people use shells, and “Beach Buddy”, a craft activity.
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Super Shells
by Feana Tu‘akoi
This report describes some of the many ways people have used shells, now and in the past. Much of the information is conveyed by intriguing, captioned photographs.
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Beach Buddy
by Fifi Colston
Shells come in all shapes and sizes. Next time youʼre on the beach, pick some up and look at them closely. What do you notice? What do they make you think of? Do they look like part of an animal? You could use shells to make a beach buddy, a crazy creature from the seashore.
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Kākahu Pekepeke
written by Keri Welham
This report describes taonga at Ōtūmoetai School, focusing on a very special whakairo (carving). It explains why the whakairo is a taonga to the school and the wider community. As well as speaking directly to Māori students, this story provides opportunities for all students to make connections to their own understandings about taonga, the arts, and cultural practices.